title: Malignant melanoma in pigmented skin: does the current interventional model fit a different clinical, histologic, and molecular entity?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Although the incidence of malignant melanoma in African Americans is considerably lower than in Caucasians, African Americans have a less-favorable prognosis related to later presentation and more deeply invasive lesions at diagnosis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To review the current literature addressing the specific clinical, histopathologic, and molecular features of melanoma in darkly pigmented individuals.
  
  
  METHODS
  We reviewed the most up-to-date literature pertaining to melanoma in this patient population, including data from clinical studies, epidemiologic analyses, and molecular and genetic studies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several studies have suggested differences between lightly and darkly pigmented populations with regard to clinicopathologic character and the underlying genetic processes affecting its pathogenesis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Further investigation is warranted to better elucidate the clinical and underlying biological differences in melanoma between Caucasians and African Americans. Such research may help to ameliorate the disparities in melanoma outcomes through improved screening, public health measures aimed at prevention, and potentially novel targeted therapeutic approaches.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of California-San Diego School of Medicine, La Jolla, California; Georgetown Dermatology, Washington, District of Columbia.
authors.forename: Doru T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Alexandrescu
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Maslin
authors.forename: Catherine Lisa
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Kauffman
authors.forename: Thomas E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Ichim
authors.forename: Constantin A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Dasanu
mesh_terms: D001741:Black or African American; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D006801:Humans; D007167:Immunotherapy; D008545:Melanoma / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D011379:Prognosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D012880:Skin Pigmentation; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology